Mailing-tube.



PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

LR. KELLER. MAILING TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1904.

FIG. :3

FIG. 4

' I Q INVENTOR'.

WITNESSES. 4

its edge to or toward the center.

UNITED STATES,

Patented April 4, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

MAILING-TUBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,296, dated April 4, 1905.

Application filed May 9, 1904. Serial No. 207,069.

To 1/ 1072/0772, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. KELLER, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in lIailing-Tubes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to mailing-tubes or the like in which the tube ends are sealed or closed to secure the contents, the primary object of which is to provide safe and quick means of securing valuable drawings, papers, &c., in tubes and their protection against damage in transportation.

A further object is to lessen the cost of mailing large quantities wherein a tube is used.

1 attain these results by the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mailingtube embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of same, showing relation of parts. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the disk used for closing the ends of the tube. Fig. 4 is a like view of the disk compressed.

The invention consists of an ordinary cylindrical tube 1, having the open ends 2 and inner wall or surface 3, preferably constructed of paper. The contents 4 are held in place in the tube by the metallic disks 5. These disks constitute the main feature of the invention and are of thin resilient metal, such as tin, having a bifurcation or slit 6 extending from The disk is also provided on its edge with sharp projections or teeth 7.

In preparing a package for mailing the article is generally first inclosed in a wrapper and inserted in the tube. The tube and contents are then inclosed in another wrapper,

. the ends turned in and fastened with cord passed through the tube. This involves considerable expense and delay in the mailing of large quantities. Further expense is due to extra weight of wrappers, requiring extra postage.

The use of my invention requires only the placing of one of the metallic disks 5 into each end of the tube 1. It is apparent that such a disk of thin resilient metal forced into the end of a tube will decrease in diameter or assume a cone shape and can be easily seated against the contents of the tube, and on release of the pressure required to insert the disk it will have a tendency to flatten out or increase to its normal diameter, thus binding tight against the inner wall3 of the tube, the teeth or projections 7 increasing the resistance or its grip by embedding themselves in the tube. The disk cannot be displaced by inside pressure, as force applied from the inside only increases its diameter or grip on the tube. The tube is supported at its ends against crushing and is closed against dust and dampness.

What I claim is 1. The combination of amailing-tube, and a disk inserted in said tube, said disk having a slit extending from its periphery toward its center, whereby it can contract in diameter for entering the tube, said disk being of resilient metal so that after insertion in the tube it will expand and bear with its periphery against the inner walls of the tube and will be held therein solely by its resilient action against the tube.

2. The combination of a mailing-tube, a disk inserted in said tube, said disk having a slit extending from its periphery toward its center, whereby it can contract in diameter for entering the tube, said disk having a toothed periphery and being of resilient metal so that after insertion in the tube it will expand and bear with its periphery against the inner walls of the tube and be held solely by its resilient action against the tube.

3. The combination of a mailing-tube, and a cup-shaped disk inserted in said tube with its concave side toward the end of the tube, said disk having a slit extending from its periphery toward its center, whereby it can contract in diameter for entering the tube, said disk being of resilient metal so that after insertion in the tube it will expand and bear with its periphery against the inner walls of the tube and be held solely by its resilient action against the tube.

In testimony whereof I, the said JOHN R. KELLER, have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN R. KELLER. 

